Mac trackpad not working — clicks, phantom movement and swollen battery
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Quick answer
Trackpad problems on a Mac have one very common cause that surprises many: a swollen battery beneath the trackpad. In 70% of 'phantom click' or 'won't click' cases, the battery is the culprit. We diagnose it in 30 minutes.
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Why doesn't the trackpad work?
Test first: 1) plug in an external mouse — does it work? 2) Boot in Recovery Mode — does the trackpad work there? If not in Recovery, it's hardware. 3) Check for bulges or unevenness under the MacBook (place it on a flat table — does it rock?). A swollen battery pushes against the trackpad and disables it. Contact us.
Why doesn't the trackpad click?
Force Touch trackpads use small vibration motors to simulate a click. If 'click' feels dead: 1) check System Settings → Trackpad → 'Tap to Click'. 2) Test whether the hardware click works at all. 3) The most common cause: a swollen battery beneath the trackpad blocking the mechanism. Battery/top case replacement with us.
Why does the cursor move on its own?
'Phantom movement' or a cursor jumping around is almost always caused by a swollen battery pressing contacts on the trackpad's flex cable together. It can also be a broken flex cable. Both require opening the MacBook. We typically solve it the same day.
Why does the trackpad stop working?
Sudden trackpad failure is typically: 1) a loose flex cable (from a previous fall or opening), 2) a swollen battery, or 3) a faulty SMC controller. Restart the Mac and test again. If it keeps happening, it's hardware.
Why does the trackpad respond slowly?
Slow trackpad response is typically software (system overloaded — check Activity Monitor) or a faulty Force Touch driver. Try: 1) restart, 2) Safe Mode, 3) NVRAM reset (Intel). If it's an old MacBook with a slow SSD, the entire system is slow — upgrade hardware or do a clean install.
Why doesn't the trackpad work after a battery replacement?
If you replaced the battery yourself and the trackpad doesn't work afterwards: check that the trackpad flex cable is correctly seated and not damaged. It's a very delicate operation — which is why we recommend us for battery replacements on newer MacBooks with glued-in batteries.